Quentin Johnston recorded the lowest game grade for the Chargers after posting three drops against the Ravens.
The Chargers played well enough through the first 15 minutes of the game to build a 10-0 lead but couldn’t muster much from there as the Ravens took control and never relinquished it over the final three quarters.
Justin Herbert did what he could. J.K. Dobbins was impactful until an injury forced him to leave the game early. Beyond that, everyone took their lumps in a game the Chargers were not picked often to win.
Without further ado, let’s go ahead and dive in to see how Pro Football Focus graded out the Chargers in their loss to the Ravens.
Offense
Best (min. 20 snaps played)
OT Rashawn Slater – 85.6
QB Justin Herbert – 76.6
OT Joe Alt – 71.9
TE Will Dissly – 68.3
RB J.K. Dobbins – 68.1
Slater was stellar against the Ravens as he led the Chargers in both pass block (85.1) and run block (81.8) grades on Monday night. Alt was also solid, ending third in both categories, as well.
Dissly had the team’s second-highest receiving grade behind Ladd McConkey with a 68.3. Dobbins was looking great before his injury, but a 43.8 receiving grade seemed to sink his grade the most.
Worst
WR Quentin Johnston – 32.2
RB Hasaan Haskins – 54.6
WR Jalen Reagor – 56.0
OG Trey Pipkins – 58.0
WR Joshua Palmer – 64.4
It should come as no surprise that Johnston recorded the team’s lowest game grade on Monday night. His first drop of the night was a drive-ender in which he had plenty of green grass in front of him to convert on third-and-six. The second and third drops came on consecutive plays in the fourth quarter. Here’s to hoping he bounces back next week.
The rest of these grades are fairly high for the bottom five but that comes with there not being enough qualifying players hitting the 20-snap threshold. Still, Reagor is down here after dropping a pass that killed an early drive and Pipkins was rough in pass pro, posting a 48.8 (worst on the team).
Defense
Best
DT Poona Ford – 83.6
DT Teair Tart – 75.0
LB Nick Niemann – 71.1
S Derwin James – 70.9
EDGE Khalil Mack – 70.4
Ford and Tart were both big standouts on Monday night with their play along the interior. They each posted the best (83.2) and second-best (78.0) run defense grades, respectively.
Niemann started for the Chargers in base personnel while Troy Dye was their guy in sub packages. He was rock-steady with the third-best grade in both tackling (80.6) and pass coverage (63.9).
James recorded the Chargers’ only sack on Lamar Jackson and had the team’s best tackling grade at 85.9. Mack played just 27 snaps against Baltimore and tied for second on the team with two pressures.
Worst
S Alohi Gilman – 43.6
DT Morgan Fox – 45.0
S Elijah Molden – 53.3
CB Kristian Fulton – 53.7
LB Daiyan Henley – 57.6
Gilman ended up in the lowest spot here due to allowing the touchdown catch to Mark Andrews. It looked like Gilman and Elijah Molden were supposed to bracket Andrews on either side but Gilman let Andrews beat him on an outside break and Lamar Jackson threw a perfect pass to his tight end to go up and get it over the safety.
Kristian Fulton had the team’s worst coverage of the night at 45.7. He allowed a 40-yard touchdown the very next play after being called for pass interference.